I Am the Fated Villain - Chapter 344

Chapter 344: You are destined to be in this world, Xiao Ruoyin’s embarrassment, the body of destiny

In the dungeon, the light was dim, and the air was damp. The air carried a pungent, rotten odor reminiscent of corpses, instilling a sense of dread and despair in everyone present, causing involuntary shudders.

As Gu Changge and Hei Yanyu entered, along with Jiang Chen and Niu Tian, their initial expressions mirrored disturbance and fear. However, they gradually composed themselves, poised to observe the unfolding situation.

Though they all sensed the man in white possessed an extraordinary identity, far more intimidating than the queen-like woman in black, they subconsciously believed him to be non-threatening. His transcendent aura exuded an otherworldly quality, his whole being seemingly aglow, with divine strands in his hair, untouched by dust.

Their initial impression remained upbeat despite the eerie surroundings. However, when Gu Changge posed questions, confusion enveloped everyone. Jiang Chen, in particular, felt a growing unease, primarily when the man in white directed his inquiry to Xiao Ruoyin instead of the group.

It wasn’t that Jiang Chen suspected ill intentions from the man in white towards Xiao Ruoyin. Instead, his demeanor, akin to observing ants from a lofty perch, felt casual and indifferent.

Although Xiao Ruoyin possessed beauty, the woman in the black dress exuded a far more condescending demeanor than her stubbornness. Yet, according to her recent words and demeanor, Jiang Chen couldn’t shake the feeling that Xiao Ruoyin was mistaken. She appeared to have been acquainted with the concept of time travel for some time, which is evident in her swift acceptance of it. However, Jiang Chen’s heart pounded with apprehension upon noticing Xiao Ruoyin’s slightly pale expression.

It seemed she comprehended the other party’s words, a realization that dawned on Jiang Chen as soon as the man in white entered. This realization surfaced in Jiang Chen’s subconscious thoughts. And indeed, when Xiao Ruoyin uttered those peculiar syllables, Jiang Chen’s understanding deepened.

Xiao Ruoyin appeared to have been aware of this strange world for quite some time yet had never disclosed it to him. This realization filled Jiang Chen with inexplicable anguish.

“She understands their language?” Jiang Chen voiced his doubt. “She never mentioned this before. What else has she concealed? She’s the one who invited us on this archaeological expedition, yet she withheld so much…”

The others, save for Jiang Chen, also gazed at Xiao Ruoyin in astonishment, their eyes wide with disbelief. They wouldn’t buy it if someone suggested she had learned the language in the past few days. Whose linguistic abilities were so formidable that they could master such a complex language in mere days? It hinted that Xiao Ruoyin had understood this world’s language long before.

The revelation left them profoundly shocked, their expressions morphing into a blend of complexity and resentment. Suddenly, the once-distant goddess seemed even more unfamiliar.

“You must know that many of our companions died here. Why didn’t Xiao Ruoyin explain this to us earlier?” Jiang Chen couldn’t help but wonder aloud.

Niu Tian also spoke, his voice low and his gaze worried as he glanced at Jiang Chen, aware of his connection with Xiao Xiaohua.

“I’m fine,” Jiang Chen reassured with a wave. Though he couldn’t conceal the shock on his face, he quickly regained his composure. However, the uneasiness in his heart only intensified.

He looked at Xiao Ruoyin, intending to ask her about the man in white’s conversation. But Xiao Ruoyin seemed oblivious to his presence, her head still bowed, her jade hands intertwined.

The man in white remained stoic, his expression unchanged, his gaze indifferent, as if everything in this world were mere smoke and dust to him.

Jiang Chen couldn’t decipher the exchange between Gu Changge and Xiao Ruoyin, but Xiao Ruoyin’s expression showed she was frightened.

“Given our sudden arrival in this mysterious and bizarre world, even the strongest among us would feel terror. It’s just that she doesn’t show it on her face. This sense of powerlessness runs deep,” Jiang Chen mused.

“It’s good that you can hear what I’m saying,” Gu Changge interjected, breaking their wild thoughts. Seeing Xiao Ruoyin’s acknowledgment, he couldn’t help but display a faint, gentle smile, which contrasted with his typically aloof demeanor.

His previously indifferent demeanor suddenly shifted, exuding a warmth akin to a spring breeze. Sensing this change, Xiao Ruoyin’s unease lessened slightly as she looked up at him, though she remained vigilant and uneasy. She couldn’t fathom how Gu Changge had discerned her ability to understand their language.

In Xiao Ruoyin’s original plan, she intended to gather information about this world first before devising an escape. What she had intended to convey to Jiang Chen moments ago was precisely this, but Gu Changge’s unexpected arrival had interrupted her.

The sight of Gu Changge filled her with unspeakable fear. Despite his apparent extraordinariness akin to an immortal’s, why did she feel vibrations deep within her heart?

“Come with me. I have something to ask you,” Gu Changge said faintly, addressing Xiao Ruoyin while disregarding Jiang Chen and the others.

Xiao Ruoyin was stunned by the request, her beautiful eyes tinged with a pale crimson hue betraying her unease. Despite her apprehension, she dared not refuse. Rising from her seat, she bowed, feeling lonely and despair. In her estimation, whatever Gu Changge intended to ask would likely not bode well.

Before this encounter, several of their companions had lost their lives after being taken away. Xiao Ruoyin hadn’t anticipated such dire consequences when venturing into the ruins; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so hasty. Despair crept into her heart. Despite her outward calmness, she remained a vulnerable woman, stripped even of her psionic gun for self-defense.

“Ruoyin, what did he say to you?” Alarmed by Gu Changge’s intention to take Xiao Ruoyin away, Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the others couldn’t help but inquire anxiously.

“Ruoyin, what’s happening?” Jiang Chen’s expression shifted drastically. His fists clenched tightly. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Xiao Ruoyin knew what lay ahead, yet he could not decipher Gu Changge’s words, a sensation akin to claws scratching at his heart.

“Jiang Chen…” Xiao Ruoyin glanced back at him, her expression tinged with sadness and desperation. Witnessing her helplessness, Jiang Chen felt a surge of anger and unwillingness flood his mind, his eyes reddening with emotion. Suddenly rising to his feet, he directed his gaze, filled with hatred and anger, straight at Gu Changge.

“If you have something to ask, direct it at me. Leave Ruoyin alone,” he roared, unwilling to stand idly by while everyone else remained silent.

“Ah Chen, calm down, don’t act rashly!” Niu Tian paled in shock, hastily restraining Jiang Chen. In such a precarious situation, tormenting the man in white was akin to inviting disaster. Did he not realize the vast difference in power between them? Just the mere presence of the man in white could render one’s soul trembling.

Moreover, while Xiao Ruoyin could understand the man in white’s words, they remained clueless. Who knew what transpired between them moments ago?

“Jiang Chen,” Xiao Ruoyin interjected, her voice carrying mixed emotions. However, she steeled herself, her expression firm as she addressed him, “You needn’t worry about me, but you must survive.”

“Ruoyin!” Jiang Chen’s eyes grew even redder, consumed by anger. He sensed Xiao Ruoyin’s despair and suffering, stirring within him a sense of impending separation as if facing life and death.

However, the others remained indifferent, save for a collective sigh. With their safety in jeopardy, they could not concern themselves with others. To them, Jiang Chen’s actions seemed impulsive.

Indeed, in the eyes of those shocked and even frightened bystanders, Jiang Chen’s actions appeared reckless.

“Huh,” Gu Changge frowned slightly, appearing somewhat displeased. Suddenly, a terrifying sense of suffocation enveloped everyone, as if the sky were collapsing and the air turned thick as lead, threatening to crush them all. Throats felt constricted as if being tightly strangled.

“Hiss…”

Jiang Chen bore the brunt of the pressure, his complexion paling instantly as if drowning. He struggled to breathe, his body soaked in sweat, immobilized by the intense force pressing down upon him. Bones, flesh, and organs felt as though they were being crushed under immense weight, emitting a sickening sound as blood seeped from his pores. His eyes, scarlet with agony, struggled to remain open.

Witnessing the horrifying scene, the others trembled in terror, paralyzed by fear.

“Jiang Chen,” Xiao Ruoyin gasped, her face drained of color with worry, but under Gu Changge’s oppressive presence, she dared not move.

“I’m losing patience,” Gu Changge’s tone remained light.

“Ah, Chen…” Niu Tian stared at Gu Changge in horror, frozen in place, feeling as though he were stalked by a fearsome beast, his soul trembling. He, too, felt his strength ebbing away, his legs giving out, forcing him to kneel.

Yet, Gu Changge didn’t prolong their suffering. With a flat gaze, he turned and exited the dungeon. Xiao Ruoyin, pale with worry, cast one last glance at Jiang Chen before following suit.

Uncertain of what lay ahead—whether it meant great misfortune or even loss of life—Xiao Ruoyin felt consumed by despair and anxiety.

“Ruoyin…” Jiang Chen’s voice, filled with reluctance, escaped his throat as he reached out, but his efforts were futile. Darkness engulfed him, and as his eyelids closed, he succumbed to unconsciousness.

The exclamations of Niu Tian and the others echoed in his ears.

“Master, are these people still of use?” Hei Yanyu, trailing behind, sealed the dungeon and glanced at Jiang Chen and the others, unable to resist her curiosity.

In her eyes, these mysterious individuals were no more significant than ants before Gu Changge. He wouldn’t have spared them a second thought if not for their enigmatic origins.

“No, let’s keep them for now,” Gu Changge replied casually, still somewhat intrigued. Hence, he refrained from eliminating them outright. Otherwise, Jiang Chen would have been obliterated, both physically and spiritually.

Furthermore, Gu Changge noticed a subtle fluctuation of luck emanating from Jiang Chen, albeit still in its nascent stage. If his intuition served him right, Jiang Chen might be a bearer of luck, albeit one yet to fully awaken—a dormant golden finger. The system had not provided any insights, indicating that a process was still underway.

Compared to Xiao Ruoyin, Jiang Chen appeared inferior, but Gu Changge deemed him potentially valuable as a resource for now.

Surveying Jiang Chen, Xiao Ruoyin, and the others, Gu Changge found no trace of the child of luck template he had anticipated. Xiao Ruoyin, however, seemed to possess an unusually high level of luck. Her fortune was undeniable, even if she wasn’t the bearer of luck.

Initially, Gu Changge had likened the luck template to the legendary “Returning from the Nine Heavens,” but upon closer inspection, he realized his assumption may have been too ambitious.

Moreover, Gu Changge was sure that Jiang Chen and the others hailed from a realm beyond Earth, a realization that left him somewhat disappointed.

Xiao Ruoyin, who had silently trailed behind the duo, trembled slightly as she listened to their conversation, her delicate frame betraying a hint of fear. However, upon hearing Gu Changge’s decision to retain Jiang Chen and the others for the time being, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Her earlier anxiety ebbed away, replaced by a sense of reassurance. Xiao Ruoyin sensed that Gu Changge harbored no evil intentions toward her; he was merely curious.

Stepping out of the dungeon, Xiao Ruoyin basked in the long-lost sunlight and fresh air, her mood lightening. She silently followed Gu Changge, marveling at the world’s magnificence.

A myriad of sights unfolded before her eyes—bizarre clans, radiant divine mountains, cascading silver waterfalls suspended in the sky, and ethereal immortals. Each scene evoked a deep breath from Xiao Ruoyin, calming her inexplicably as if she belonged there. It was a strange yet comforting sensation as if this world was more suited to her.

Soon, they arrived at a grand palace where Gu Changge settled in casually. His demeanor exuded calmness, tinged with a hint of worldly allure. Hei Yanyu served tea with demure obedience beside him, starkly contrasting her earlier display of formidable power.

Observing Hei Yanyu’s docile demeanor, Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t help but wonder if she had misjudged the woman in the black dress. However, she understood this obedience stemmed from the extraordinary man who commanded respect.

“What’s your name?” Gu Changge’s gaze lowered as he blew gently on the misty tea, his eyes pale as he casually inquired.

Before him, Xiao Ruoyin dared not conceal her identity as she replied, “Xiao Ruoyin, ‘Xiao’ as in bleak, the sound of music.” It was her customary method of introduction, as people often mistook her surname for another ‘Xiao.’

“Oh, Xiao Ruoyin? That’s a nice name,” Gu Changge nodded appreciatively before continuing, “I want to know about the world you live in.”

If the souls of this group of people were more robust, he could directly search their souls, sparing him the need to ask directly. However, their souls were weakened, typical of individuals from modern society, overly reliant on science and technology. This rendered their souls significantly weaker than mortals in the upper realm.

Upon hearing Gu Changge’s question, Xiao Ruoyin’s pupils constricted slightly. She hadn’t expected him to inquire about their world so directly. Rather than questioning how they arrived or how she adapted to the local language, his query caught her off guard.

It seemed Gu Changge possessed a deeper understanding of their origins than she anticipated, displaying little surprise at their presence.

Realizing this, Xiao Ruoyin’s complexion quickly regained composure. Aware of Gu Changge’s ability to discern truth from falsehood, she began to recount their origins truthfully.

“We hailed from an azure planet called Blue Star Planet,” she began, “It’s vastly different from here. Lifespans are short, and there’s no concept of qi refinement. Despite advanced scientific and medical technologies, few live to see a century…”

She wasn’t sure if Gu Changge could comprehend her words, but he made no effort to interrupt. Instead, he listened intently, his interest piqued, seemingly captivated by her world.

Observing Gu Changge’s engrossed demeanor, Xiao Ruoyin felt relief wash over her, easing her tension.

“Master, this is the weapon I confiscated from her earlier. It’s not particularly potent; it can’t pierce beast hides, but it’s effective against regular beasts,” Hei Yanyu interjected, recalling something. She retrieved an object from her storage ring, resembling the pistol Gu Changge was familiar with.

He sensed faint aura fluctuations, different from ordinary guns.

“This is a psionic pistol, also quite rare in our world, requiring special bullets…” Xiao Ruoyin explained, unsure if Gu Changge could grasp the concept. She wouldn’t possess such a weapon without her unique status and backing from an influential family in her original world.

“Intriguing,” Gu Changge smiled, examining the pistol before returning it to her. Through Xiao Ruoyin’s descriptions, he gleaned insights into the civilization behind her.

Resembling Earth, her world featured unique energy stones called spirit stones. Their arrival in this world was linked to Xiao Ruoyin’s accidental contact with a spiritual stone near the altar.

“There’s an energy fluctuation, likely from cultivators on the technology side. I wonder if there will be a spiritual recovery…” Gu Changge remarked casually, prompting Xiao Ruoyin’s pupils to shrink and her expression to shift subtly. She comprehended the implications of his words but couldn’t fathom how Gu Changge knew.

“I’ve encountered people with origins similar to yours before. They hailed from a certain lower realm,” Gu Changge revealed calmly, withholding further details about their origin. Xiao Ruoyin was momentarily stunned by his revelation but didn’t doubt his words. She hadn’t anticipated encountering others from her world in this realm.

“Your world seems quite fascinating. Given a chance, I’d like to explore it,” Gu Changge mused, evoking a blank stare from Xiao Ruoyin, surprised by his declaration.

Suddenly, she noticed a shift in the enigmatic man before her. He seemed less aloof and more approachable, dissipating much of her fear towards Gu Changge.

He didn’t exude malice but appeared genuinely curious about their world.

“As… a young master, why are you interested in these mortal matters?” After some thought, Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t determine how to address Gu Changge, settling on “young master.” She couldn’t fathom where she found the courage to address him informally.

“You don’t understand,” Gu Changge replied, glancing at her with a hint of a smile before sighing slightly, seemingly in a good mood. Xiao Ruoyin gazed at his handsome face, once the object of adoration for countless women in her previous world, now feeling a sense of revelation. His sigh conveyed a spectrum of emotions, revealing a glimpse of the troubles and worries even otherworldly immortals faced.

“If the opportunity arises, I would like to show you that world, young master, though it’s not as fascinating as you might imagine…” Xiao Ruoyin’s voice remained calm as she lightly tugged at her clothes, her audacity surprising even herself. Given her current status, it was audacious to speak to Gu Changge in such a manner. Despite her unease, she struggled to maintain composure.

“Interesting. It’s the first time someone, let alone a mortal, has dared to speak to me in such a manner,” Gu Changge remarked, not showing any sign of anger. His casual smile made him appear approachable.

Hearing his response, Xiao Ruoyin was once again taken aback. Her delicate features flushed slightly, a sudden realization dawning on her. Gu Changge’s reaction confirmed something she had been grappling with.

Gu Changge harbored no ill will toward Xiao Ruoyin or the others accompanying her, Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the rest. Sensing this, Xiao Ruoyin gathered her courage and continued,

“Ever since I was a child in that world, I’ve had peculiar dreams. Dreams where I become a soaring immortal, all-powerful, and sometimes even glimpse into the future.”

“At the time, I fretted, thinking I was afflicted with some ailment until I stumbled upon an ancient tome, its inscriptions familiar. Subsequently, I delved into archaeology, hoping to uncover traces of the world from my dreams…”

That’s how she acquired the ability to understand the language of this world. Xiao Ruoyin had never shared these sentiments with anyone, not even Jiang Chen, her close friend from college. She couldn’t explain why she revealed this to Gu Changge, a man she’d just met.

“Oh? That’s quite fascinating. It seems you may have had a past life as an immortal,” Gu Changge mused, his interest piqued.

“An immortal in my past life?” Xiao Ruoyin was puzzled, feeling a sudden surge of excitement, her heart racing. “Could it be that I was a native of this world in my previous life?”

Sensing her fascination, Gu Changge smiled, suggesting, “How else would you explain your connection to this world?”

“Am I somehow linked to this world?” Xiao Ruoyin was taken aback, a peculiar emotion stirring within her.

“Yan Yu, take this girl Xiao for a bath; it’s not healthy to be confined for so many days…” Gu Changge instructed, his smile taking on a peculiar tone.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruoyin suddenly realized she had been held captive for several days, and her body began feeling unpleasant.

In her previous world, Xiao Ruoyin had always projected a cold, unsmiling demeanor, earning her the reputation of an untouchable iceberg goddess. She was accustomed to being admired from afar, untainted by gossip or criticism. Never before had she experienced such embarrassment.

Was Gu Changge repulsed by the odor emanating from her? Had he been tolerating it all along?

The thought left Xiao Ruoyin feeling mortified, her cheeks flushing slightly. Her regard for Gu Changge grew significantly. After all, few individuals of his stature would endure such discomfort, conversing with her for so long with such grace.

Following Gu Changge’s instruction, Hei Yanyu escorted Xiao Ruoyin away, leaving only Gu Changge in the palace. He downed the tea from the white jade teacup in one gulp, his smile taking on a hint of intrigue.

“The Void of Fate, now that’s intriguing,” he mused aloud. “Could it be the reincarnation of the priest of destiny from the Immortal Palace? The purported embodiment of destiny, wielding control over all time and space, all-cause and effect—utterly incomprehensible, unpredictable, and indescribable…”